Margulies



Jan. 11, 1955 s. MARGULIES 2,699,055

WOMAN'S STOCKING AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME Filed May 25, 1954 INVENTORSc'rzzwe ,Maryu es ATTORNEY United States Patent" WQMAN STOCKING ANDMETHOD OF FORMING SAME Samuel Margulies, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application May 25, 1954, Serial No. 432,250

Claims. (Cl. 66-182) The present invention relates generally to seamlesstubular-knit hosiery and it relates more particularly to the toestructure of such seamless tubular-knit hosiery.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel toe structurefor seamless tubular-knit hosiery, as well as a novel method of formingthe same.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention are apparent inthe following detailed description, appended claims and accompanyingdrawings.

In forming so-called Fseamless hosiery, that is hosiery which istubular-knit on a circular knitting machine (as distinguished fromso-called full-fashioned hosiery, which is knit in the form of a flatstrip, the edges of which are subsequently sewn together by a seam whichextends from the toe, along the bottom of the foot portion, and up theback of the leg portion), it has heretofore been customary to constructthe toe portion by setting the knitting machine to knit additionalcourses along part of the toe opening of the tubular blank, therebyproviding a pocket or extension and also placing the axis of the toeopening at an angle to the axis of the remainder of the tubular blank.The toe opening is then sewn closed by an arcuate seam which extendsacross the tops of the toes of the wearer in the final stocking.However, this conventional method of forming the toe in seamless hosieryhas serious disadvantages. Thus, the need for knitting additionalcourses along part of the toe opening, complicates the operation, andreduces the rate of production, of the knitting machine. Additionally,and even more serious, it requires considerable skill properly to formthe arcuate seam which closes the off-center opening; only a smallproportion of operators being able to perform this work and even theyturning out a relatively high percentage of defective stockings.

According to the present invention, there has, for the first time, beenperfected a novel toe structure, as well as a novel method of formingthe same, which eliminates the objectionable features of the prior artand enables the toe to be formed by any average operator in a fractionof the time heretofore needed and with a far smaller proportion ofdefective hose; in addition to providing appreciably greater strength inthe toe.

Generally speaking, the present invention contemplates the formation ofthe toe portion of a seamless tubularknit stocking by forming a seamclosing the toe opening along a line extending generally diagonallyalong the flattened tubular blank (and extending from the point of thetoe downwardly along the sole to just beyond the ball of the foot in thefinal stocking) and then forming a relatively short seam extending inboth directions at right angles to the main seam at the front endthereof and serving to reinforce the main seam at the point of greateststress during use. The seams can be formed, in a few seconds, by anyoperator of average skill, employing a conventional sewing machine whichtrims as it sews.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in theaccompanying drawings one form thereof which has been found in practiceto give satisfactory results and which is presently preferred; it beingunderstood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precisearrangements and instrumentalities illustrated.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like referencecharacters indicate like parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a seamless, circularknit tubular blankas it comes off the knitting machine and before closing of the toeportion.

l atented Jan. 11, 1955 Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevationalview of the flattened tubular blank on which the first step of the toeclosing operation, namely the forming of the main diagonal seam, hasbeen completed.

Figure 3 is an elevational view illustrating the second step of the toeclosing operation, namely the formation of the short right-angularreinforcing seam line at the forward end of the main seam.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view showing the foot portion of theblank placed on a shaper imparting proper configuration thereto.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the underside of a womans footwearing the novel stocking of the present invention.

In Fig. 1, there is shown a seamless, circular-knit tube or blank 10,which includes a sheer main portion 12 formed of relatively lightthread, an upper or welt portion 14 formed of relatively heavier andstronger thread, and a lower or toe portion 16 also formed of heavierand stronger thread. The blank is of true tubular configurationthroughout, there being no ofiset toe opening of the type needed inprior art stockings as described above.

The first step in the formation of the toe structure is shown in Fig. 2.Thus, a diagonal seam 18 is formed in the flattened toe portion 16running from a point 22 adjacent one end of the flattened circular freeedge 20 of the toe portion to a point 24 spaced appreciably inwardly ofthe other end of the flattened edge 20. While the seam 18 is shown, inFig. 2, as being generally straight, it can be rounded slightly,especially nearer the end 24, to improve the fit of the final stocking.

After the seam 18 has been formed, the generally triangular flattenedportion 26 disposed outwardly of the seam is cut off as illustrated inFig. 2. The cutting operation can be performed simultaneously with theseaming by means of conventional edging sewing machines which cut asthey seam.

The toe portion 16, which is now closed by the diagonal seam 18, is thenflattened, in the vicinity of the point 22, in a plane generally atright angles to that of Fig. 2, and a second relatively shortreinforcing seam 28 is formed so as to cross the seam 18 at a point 30(somewhat inward of the point 22) and to extend generally at rightangles to the seam 18 for a short distance on both sides thereof, asshown in Fig. 3.

The uppermost small generally triangular flattened portion 32 above theseam 28 is then cut 01f as indicated in Fig. 3; the cutting beingperformable simultaneously with the seaming in the manner referred toabove.

It can be seen that only a few seconds are required to run the flattenedtube portion 16 through the sewing machine (so as to form the diagonalseam 18 and simultaneously sever the portion 26); thereafter to flattenthe end of the tube adjacent the point 22; and finally to run theflattened end through the sewing machine once again (so as to form theshort reinforcing seam 28 and simultaneously sever the portion 32), soas to complete the formation of the toe structure.

I prefer to make the seam 18 run almost the full width of the flattenedblank, so that the transverse reinforcing seam 28 is located adjacentthe level of the toe nails in the final stocking, thereby strengtheningthe toe portion i th; zone of greatest stress and wear, as illustratedin After the toe portion has been formed, the blank is placed on ashaper and stretched and set into proper configuration, as indicated inFig. 4; using conventional shaping techniques known to those skilled inthe art.

By uslng the novel method of the present invention, I have found that itis possible substantially to reduce the manufacturing cost of womenscircular-knit seamless hosiery and, at the same time, to produce astronger and better wearing stocking.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms and,therefore, the foregoing embodiment is to be considered in all respectsmerely as illustrative and not restrictive; reference being made to theappended claims as indicating the scope of the invention.

Hiving thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent the following:

1. In a womans circular-knit stocking, a toe closure 3 comprising a seamrunning forward along the bottom of the stocking from about the arch ofthe foot to about toenail level, and a relatively short reinforcing seamrunning transversely and generally at right angles to thefirst-mentioned seam and extending to both sides from the front end ofsaid first-mentioned seam.

2. A construction according to claim 1 wherein the main portion isrelatively sheer and is knitted of thin thread and wherein the toeportion is knitted of relatively heavier thread; the aforesaid seamsbeing located wholly within the relatively heavier toe portion.

3. A method of forming a womans stocking which comprises the steps offorming a circular-knit seamless open-ended tube of generally uniformdiameter, flattening the tube adjacent one end thereof so as to form apair of parallel longitudinal fold lines therein, running a generallydiagonal seam from a point lo cated generally at the outer end of one ofsaid fold lines to a point located at the other fold line an appreciabledistance inward from the outer end thereof, 20

1y short reinforcing seam intersecting the first-mentioned seamgenerally at right angles slightly below the uppermost end thereof, andtrimming off the small triangular portion located above thelast-mentioned intersecting seam.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein each trimming operation isperformed substantially simultaneously with the corresponding seamingoperation.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein the circular-knit seamless tubehas its major portion formed of relatively light thread, and wherein theannular portion adjacent one end of the tube is formed of heavierthread, and wherein the aforesaid seams are formed wholly within theabove-mentioned heavier-thread annular portion to provide a reinforcedtoe portion in the final stocking.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS414,479 Appleton Nov. 5, 1889 2,111,850 Flescher Mar. 22, 1938 FOREIGNPATENTS 413,279 Great Britain July 10, 1934 640,342 Great Britain July19, 1950

